X r rail-brace



(No Model.) Q

P. F. BARR.

- RAIL BRAGE.

No. 297,661. Patented Apr. 29, 1884.

' I INVENTOR Q Pz'nd'ine FBaw" BY y I ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

rnvoknnv r. BARR, or DENVER, COLORADO.

RAlL-BRACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 297,661, dated April 29, 1884-.

' Application filed JulyEIS, 1883. (no model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, PINOKNEY F. BARR, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Denver, in the county of Arapahoe 5 and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful' Improvements in Rail-Braces, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings. r

This invention relates to an improvement in rail-braces;,and it consists in such a construction of said braces as will allow of the top of the rail being braced in a much stronger manner than heretofore.

Braces as heretofore made have been deficient in strength or so heavy as to be very costly. In iny invention I so construct the brace that it has the maximum of effect with the minimum of metal, by so disposing-the metal that a portion of it passes directly in a diagonal line' from the foot of the brace to the top of the neck of the rail, so as to rest under the ball, whereby the rail is most effectually braced with a comparatively light brace.

In order that others skilled in the art to which my invention. pertains may make and use my invention, I will hereinafter describe the manner in which I propose to carry it out, and refer to the accompanying drawings, which show different forms of braces.

Figurel is the preferred form of my invention, and it is made by first bending the metal into the form shown, and then welding it at the point indicated by the dotted line. In this form the metal is so disposed as to form a foot, A, from a to b, a diagonal stay, 13, from b to c, a vertical side, 0, from a to d, fitting the web of the rail, and a foot-connection, D, from d to e, fittingthe foot of the mail. In some cases I propose to simply bend the brace to the shape indicated without Welding at the dotted line. Fig. 2 is another form having slightly less metal, formed in essentially the same way; but in this case the footconnection or part designed to rest on the foot of the rail is welded tothe diagonal stay instead of to both foot and stay, as in Fig. 1. The welding of this form of brace'may also 50 be dispensed with where heavy iron is used for the brace or less strength is required. Fig. 3 shows a brace of similar external form to the last, but the diagonal stay B, side piece, 0, and foot-connectionD are formed solid. Fig. 4 shows a cheaper form of brace without the foot-connection between the side piece and diagonal stay, which may be found useful where the strain is comparatively light.

Previous to' my invention cast-iron braces had been used; but they proved to be very expensive, as they had to be made very heavy-from six to eight pounds each-while mine, being made of wrought or malleable iron,will be of sufficient strength if made from two and three-quarters to three and one-half pounds in weight. 4

With cast-iron braces there is a loss ofat least fifteen per cent. in breakage in putting on, and an almost total loss in taking off, whereas with mine there is no breakage eithe in putting on or taking off.

With cast-iron braces three spikes are necessary, owing to their thickness, while mine will be equally as well secured with two spikes.

I am aware that it has been proposed to make wrought-iron braces, but of such construction as to be of comparatively little strength; and I therefore do not claim,broadly, the use of wrought-iron braces.

\Vhat I claim as new is 1. A wrought or malleable iron brace provided with a foot, A, a diagonal stay, B, and vertical side 0, substantially as described.

2. A wrought or malleable-iron brace pro vided with a foot, A, a diagonal stay, B, vertical side 0, andfoot-connection D, substantially as described.

3. A wrought'or malleable iron brace provided with a foot, A, a diagonal stay, ]3, vertical side 0, and foot-connection D, and having the foot-connection welded to the foot, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses, this 21st day of July, 1883.

BINOK EY n. BARR.

Witnesses: v D. R. THAYER, W. T. TAvLoR. 

